Le Vieux-Marché: Cultural Heritage and Trails

Le Vieux-Marché brings together religious heritage, traces of former commercial life and trails through the Saint-Ethurien valley. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Le Vieux-Marché, these different highlights can shape your travel plans: would you like to explore chapels and historic buildings, discover local history on a circular walk, or focus instead on the landscapes along the trails?

Chapel, Dolmen and Pilgrimage

The Chapelle des Sept-Saints is considered France’s only testament to the cult of the Seven Sleepers of Ephesus, celebrated by Christians and Muslims. Associated with the chapel is the Dolmen de la chapelle des Sept-Saints: this Neolithic passage grave forms the floor of the south transept. Here, religious tradition meets a much older stone structure.

The Islamic-Christian pilgrimage to the Seven Saints has been held on the fourth Sunday in July since 1954. Check the dates for the relevant year before travelling. Guided tours of the Chapelle des Sept-Saints are available on request through the tourist office; advance booking and a minimum of four to five participants are required. You should therefore request a guided tour in advance.

Churches and Listed Features

The Notre-Dame-de-Consolation church was built between 1878 and 1892 on the site of an earlier chapel. At the parish church of Le Vieux-Marché, the west portal, the small north door with its flanking niches, and the Pietà have been listed as historic monuments since 1927. The various architectural and decorative details offer points of interest if you would like to pay attention to specific features of church architecture during your visit.

The Notre-Dame-de-Consolation church is opened on request through the mairie; its exterior areas are freely accessible year-round. This means you can distinguish between visiting the outside and requesting access to the church interior.

Trails Through the Village and Valleys

The “Tour du bourg” circular walk takes you through the squares of Le Vieux-Marché. Old iron rings and shop signs reveal traces of commercial life in the first half of the 20th century. If you are looking for local history in the streets and squares, these traces of former shops are the main focus here.

The “Tour des moulins” runs through the green valley of the Saint-Ethurien and past former mills. Water washes over their old stonework. “Sur les pas de Luzel” offers a different cultural focus: the trail follows in the footsteps of storyteller François-Marie Luzel along shady, hedgerow-lined paths and past manor houses, chapels, fountains and oratories.

The “Chemin des améthystes” passes through the landscape of Le Vieux-Marché; its emblem is a small purple stone, the amethyst. The “Au fil du Saint-Ethurien” route starts in Le Vieux-Marché, follows the Saint-Ethurien through a wooded valley and returns along the valley heights. Along the way, it takes in the old Milin ar C'hoat bridge and the Kerbiquet mill, whose wheel is still visible. Compared with the Tour du bourg, this route focuses more on the course of the valley, former mills and structures by the water.

Landscape and Places to Visit

A notable natural landmark is the Hêtre de Kervinihy beech tree. It is estimated to be between 150 and 350 years old, about 25 metres tall and has a span of 20 metres.

The site of the Chapelle, fontaine et croix de la Trinité offers panoramic views over the Léguer valley. The complex is situated along a walking trail; its exterior areas are freely accessible year-round. The interior can be visited on request through the mairie. The site therefore offers both a view over the valley and different ways to visit its exterior and interior areas.

Discover more destinations: Languenan, Lancerf, Buhulien, Pommeret, Trégastel, Magoar, Plouisy, Trévé.

For the broader travel guide: Côtes-D’armor.